Chapter 145: Chapter 145 Exceeded His Wildest Plans
Alpha Theodore’s funeral fell short of Fiona’s expectations. The ongoing battle forced them to keep the ceremony modest, which only deepened her despair. Once the burial ended, she refused to leave her bed.
Draven, her younger brother, was far too young to grasp the gravity of their situation, let alone assume leadership of the pack. This left Reginald to shoulder the entire burden.
The power shift went smoothly. Nobody challenged his authority, though they stopped short of calling him alpha outright. By blood, that title belonged to Draven. Still, driven by their thirst for vengeance against their fallen leader’s killers, the pack willingly obeyed Reginald’s commands.
Reginald didn’t push for the formal title. Forcing the issue too soon would backfire. He needed their rage burning hot, ready to direct at their enemies.
Honestly, this outcome exceeded his wildest plans. He couldn’t believe his incredible luck. His stars had never aligned so perfectly.
"Gather the alphas from the other seven packs," Reginald commanded gamma Darius.
Darius had served alongside alpha Theodore for years as the Crimson Fang pack’s gamma. Now fury consumed him over his alpha’s death.
"Right away," Darius replied.
At his late thirties, the shifter remained in his prime. He’d first met Reginald nearly two years ago, when the king’s mate attempted escape from her pack and was caught trespassing on Crimson Fang territory.
"You’ve slipped into this role remarkably fast," alpha Sterling observed.
His status remained unclear - technically still an alpha, yet packless, his warriors now absorbed into the Crimson Fang ranks. He’d become nothing more than an aging man, and Reginald no longer felt the need for caution around him.
A wolf stripped of claws and fangs was just an oversized, broken dog. That’s what alpha Sterling had become.
Still, Reginald maintained some wariness. The old alpha retained value as a skilled strategist whose expertise could help win this war against the crown.
More importantly, Sterling still held connections to the Valerium kingdom, where they might negotiate reinforcements.
"I had an excellent teacher," Reginald said, not sparing flattery as he walked with alpha Sterling toward the war room for their next strategy session. "Who do you think will command their warriors in the next assault?"
Their spy had confirmed Timothy could no longer lead attacks. He remained bedridden in critical condition.
"There’s a senior warrior named Turner. He’s accompanied the royal gamma on every campaign. I believe he’ll take command."
"My thoughts exactly," Reginald mused, weighing alternatives.
Turner was his sister’s mate, but they’d never been close. Reginald felt no guilt about the harm he’d have to inflict on the man.
Unless the king personally led the warriors - which was impossible - Turner was the obvious choice.
"We need to send an assassin after him. That’ll delay their next attack long enough for Valerium reinforcements to arrive."
"You actually reached them?" Reginald stopped walking and stared at alpha Sterling in surprise. "Why didn’t you tell me?"
"I’ve been exchanging letters with them," Collin said, frowning. "I discussed this with alpha Theodore back when you weren’t qualified to hear such news. But circumstances have changed."
Reginald clenched his fists, then quickly composed himself. When he spoke again, his voice stayed light.
"Tell me everything you know. We need to plan based on the intelligence we have."
This old bastard had undermined him from the start, excluding him from crucial discussions.
——
**Perry’s POV**
"Got something you want to tell me?" I trap Phoebe between my arms, staring deep into her eyes.
She shakes her head. Nothing to discuss with me, apparently. She’s only here because of Elder Tricia, but she won’t betray the elder.
Her gaze drops to the suitcase on the floor. I’m in the middle of packing for departure.
Following her line of sight, I smile. "I’m leaving for a while. Stay here and behave yourself, okay?" I brush a light kiss across her forehead, watching for her reaction.
When she doesn’t pull away, I kiss both her eyes, her nose, her jaw, then trail down to her neck, tasting her collarbones until she shoves me back. She glares.
"Don’t leave the palace. It’s dangerous out there."
She narrows her eyes, as if saying I’m dangerous too, but I just chuckle at her adorable response.
I can practically hear her thoughts, even without our mindlink.
"I’ll be right back. Timothy and I will return, and we’ll hold your ceremony. What do you think?"
Silence. She presses her lips together.
"Don’t look at me like that. Makes me want to kiss you."
Surprise flickers across her face - she wasn’t even trying to make any expression - but she grabs the front of my shirt. I catch her hand.
"I’ll make everything right when I return. Wait for me." I bring her hand to my lips, kissing her knuckles. "Is it still true that you want to be with me?"
